Warriors, Stephen Curry appear to be running out of magic

OKLAHOMA CITY — Stephen Curry had a message for his team after the lopsided Game 4 loss. And he repeated it, several times, on the podium.

“The series isn’t over.”

It sure feels like it is, because it seems Curry has run out of magic.

The Warriors needed him to be spectacular against a Thunder squad clicking on all cylinders. Instead, he was mortal: 19 points on 20 shots, six turnovers and eight missed 3-pointers. The Warriors didn’t stand a chance, losing 118-94 in Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals.

For the first time under coach Steve Kerr, they are on the brink of elimination. The same team that set the NBA record for regular season wins, taking down the storied 1995-96 Chicago Bulls, is in danger of being ousted with relative ease.

And that’s largely because the two-time MVP, and first-ever unanimous winner, looked nothing like the dominant force in the two games in Oklahoma. He can’t seem to find his mojo here.

And if that’s true, the Warriors’ magical season is headed for a epic crash.

Curry was not ready to come to that conclusion. His words, his demeanor, after the game suggested he had tapped into the reserves of his resolve.

The Warriors needed their star to rebuttal. They needed the phenomenon who pulls up from 30 feet with ease and scores in bunches. They needed the guy who has the ball on the string, manipulating the pick and roll and finishing inside like he’s four inches taller than he is.

Curry wasn’t alone in his ineffectiveness. Draymond Green had a worse performance. The Warriors were outscored by 30 in his 38 minutes.

“We put ourselves in this position,” Green said. “And we aren’t hiding from the pressure. When we were winning, it was me and him. And now that we’re in this position, that’s on us, too. We have to take the good with the bad.”

But the void of Curry’s heroics felt larger than that of his teammates. The Warriors’ fan base was pining for him to do that thing he does. Basketball experts and critics were watching closely for him to validate the historic love he has received. And he didn’t have it.

And if Curry doesn’t have it, against this Oklahoma City squad that looks like one of the greatest ever, it’s hard to see how the Warriors find their way out of this hole.

All season, Curry’s greatness has compensated for the Warriors’ deficiencies. He has erased many bad stretches and subpar games with the flick of his wrist.

Tuesday, he tried desperately to do it again. He clapped feverishly when things were going wrong, doled out high fives to keep spirits up. He jogged to the huddle when a Thunder run forced a Warriors timeout, ditching the sulking the walk to the bench.

He moved the ball and picked his spots smartly. He attacked the basket and worked his way to open threes. But no matter what he did, it never clicked.

Is he hurt, still hampered by a sprained right MCL or bruised right elbow?

“No, I’m fine.”

Is the matchup with Russell Westbrook wearing on him?

“No. I’ve just got to play better.”

He couldn’t find his stroke. Couldn’t zip his pass through the Thunder’s waving arms. Couldn’t find his man on defense. Curry couldn’t do anything right.

Now, the Warriors return home to lick their wounds, having been deconstructed by the Thunder, facing the truest of must wins in Game 5 on Thursday.

The series isn’t over, Curry says. The only way it isn’t is if he finds his magic. Three times.

“It’s obviously frustration,” Curry said. “It’s a terrible feeling once again not stepping up and being ourselves and playing our game. But I think we’re a special team and this isn’t how we’re going to go out.”